Pressed-metal sedan door



March 20, 1928. 1,663,515

' J. LEDWINKA 'PRESSED METAL SEDAN noon Filed Sept. '20. 1924 z-sheets-sneez 1 I 13 I YINVENTOR'.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA BY I v v ATTORNEY.

March 20, 1928. -J LEDWINKA PRESSED METAL SEDAN noon '2 I Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20; 1924 m MN MW VD .mE L H DI CL 5 O J 2 :m F

ATTORNEY.

20 frame encompassin Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATESITPATENT orrice.

.rosnrn LEDWINKA, or PNILADE PHIA, rENNsYLvANIA, ASSIGNOB 'ro EDWARD e.

BUDD MANUFACTURING comrANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A con- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PRESSED-METAL SEDAN DOOR.

Applicationjfiled'Scptember 20,1924. s m 1 m. 738,783.

My invention relates to pressedmetal doors for automobile or other vehicle bodies, and especially to the doors of automobile bodies of the closed body type such as the eoup 5 and the sedan. In these bodies the doors are most commonly provided with a window in. their upper portion which window is provided with a glass which is normally housed between the inner and outer panels of the lower portion of the door,- and is raised to close thewindow.

Pressed metal doors of this type, as heretofore constructed, have been comparatively complex in structure, requiring relatively difficult-dies for manufacture and close attehtion in fitting, have therefore been relatively expensive to manufacture, and in gen-,-

eral have been heavy in weight. Butof more moment, those portions of the door- (Y the window opening have had a relatively large opaque projection with the result that the ranges of Vision through the window of a car have been seriously limited.

The prime object of my invention is to produ'cea pressed metal door structure in which the window glass may be made of a width substantially equal to the overall width of the door frame itself, thus reducing the opaque projection of the upper portion of the door to a veritable minimum and greatly increasing the range of vision enjoyed by the occupants of a-car. A co-orfdinate object is the production of a door which will most fully lend itself to the installation of a )door lock having independentand separated inner and outer lock operating devices arranged one on each side of the window glass. In'so lending itself it enhances the advantages pertaining to the use of this type-of lock, Ancillary tbjects are the simplification and lightening of the component parts of the door, resulting in cutting down the excessive weight and making possible the simplification and lightening of parts of the doorway itself, the improvement in the structural relations and assembly of the arts, thus augmenting strength and dura ility and bettering the adaptation of both the parts themselves and the assembly to a cheap fabrication by which latter processes, as well as by the former, the cost of production at large .is reduced. And throughout it is aimed to increase the efliciency of operation under all conditions of servlce.

These objects I have been able to obtain is the body of the Z, and the flanges of the section are,, respectively, the armsthereof. Subordinately, the hinge rails and jamb rails of the door, while of simple Z-section, in the main are differently formed as respect their upper portions defining the window and the lower portion defining the lower panel of the door. The lower portion of the jamb rail is of compound Z-section comprising both a simple .2 and a connected angle, while the upper portion is of simple Z-section in extension of the simple Z portion of the. section of the lower length of the rail. The lower length of the hinge rail. is itself of simple Z-section, but this section,

is'of greater height than the section of the upper length of the raihwhich is of a simple Z-section substantially of thedimension of a simple Z section of the upper length of the jamb rail. Glass runs for the window are mounted on the webs of the rails, with their bottoms against the webs of the rails, and the runs themselves lying, in the case of the jamb rail, at the bottom adjacentthe intermediate arm of the Z-section and at the top adjacent the inner arm of the simple Z-sec-- ti0n,.and, in-th e' case of the hinge rail, lying intermediate the arm of the Z in the lower length of the railand adjacent theinner arm of the Z in the upper length of the rail. There are-anumber of'coordinate features and detailsof construction all contributing .to the achievement of these important reit will be readily-comprehended upon an un-.

derstanding of the invention that it is capaebl of many other embodiments.

Ofthe drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation from the outside of one complete door mounted in a doorway, and'an adjacent incompletely shown door mounted in an adjacent door, as ina sedan type automobile.

Fig. 2 is an elevation from the inside of a frame of one of the doors.-

, ple Z-sections of the section, as shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, are, respectively, sections on lines 33 to 99 of Figs. 1 and 2, as the same may be. I

The door frame in the embodiment shown is substantially rectangular in form and comprises ajamb rail 10, a hinge rail 11, and top rail 12,and a bottom rail 13. This substantially rectangular frame is cross braced by three sets of elements; first, by the outer paneling 14 which 0 vers the lower length of the frame, secondly by the lock plate 15 which extends transversely of the frame on the inside, and thirdly by the cross braces 16 and 17 which interconnect members of the frame on the inside.

The lower length of jamb rail 10 has. a compound Z-section, shown in-Fig. 7. This comprises the web 18 constituting the body of a simple Z, an outer arm 19, and an inner arm 20; from which there is extended an angle 21, 22.- This angle, with the arm 20 of the simple Z-section 18, '19, 20, itself constitutes a simple z section comprising web 21, which constitutes the body of the Z, outer arm 20 and inner arm 22. The simple Z- section 18, 19, 20, of'Fig. 7, is extended up wardly to constitute the upper length of the door, as shown in Fig. 4.- But the angular extension of the section 21, 22 is terminated at a point substantially at the top of the outer paneling 14 and the inner lock plate 15.

The hinge rail 11 in its lower length defined by the height of the outer panel 14 and the top of lock plate 15 is of simple Z- The upper length above panel 14 is also of simple Z-section, as shown in Fig. 5, but this section is of less height than the section shown in Fig. 8;. The section of the lower length comprises a body web 23, an outer arm 24, and an inner arm 25. The section of the upper length comprises a body web 23 in extension of the outer portion of the body web 23 of the lower length, an outer arm 24 in extension of the outer arm 24 of the lower length, and an inner arm 26 displaced inwardly of the inner arm 25 of the section of the lower length. The simple Z-sections of the upper lengths of bothrails 10 and 11 are substantially similar, as clearly appears in Figs. 4 and 5.

The top rail-12 is of the simple Z-section shown in Fig. 3. It comprises a body web 27, an outer arm 28, and an inner arm 29. the height of this simple Z-section, however, is still less than the height of the simupper lengths of rails 10 and 11.

The lower rail 13 is of the simple Z-section shown in Fig. 9 comprising body web 30, outer arm 31, and inner arm 32. l The web 30 in this case is ofa height substantially equal.

to the height of a compound zsection of Fig. 7 and the simple Z-section of Fig. 8 of same plane.

the lower length of rails 10 and 11. The inuniform width extending around the entireperiphery of the door frame. They together comprise the overlap which closes the cracks of the door jambs and gives a finished appearance to the door. In furtherance of these ends, the arms 19, 24, 28 and 31 are slightly beaded, as clearly appears, orotherwise shaped to better constitute this overlap.

The meeting sections ofv webs 18, 23, 23, 27 I and 30, adjoining arms 19, 24, 28 and 31, are

welded togetherin such fashion that meeting ends ofthe arms lie in'substantially the The Z-section of the lower lengths of rails 10 and 11, and the lower rail 13, being of substantially the same height, the inner arms 22, 25 and 32, then, he in substantially the same plane at their lines of meeting, and are also welded together. v At the top of the door, however, because top rail 12 has a z section les; in height than jamb and hinge rails 10 and 11, the inner arm 29 of the top rail does not lie at the corners in the same plane as the inner arms 20 and 26.

Panel 14 is attached to the exterior of the lower length of the frame by crimping its side and bottom edges over the outer arms 19, 24 and 31, respectively, of the rails 10, 11

and 13. Its top edge 33 is turned inwardly and downwardly to constitute the outer .window sill, as shown in Fig. 6. This panel strongly braces the frame transversely from the outside and this bracing action is increased by reason of the exterior convexity usually given doors of this type.

' The lock board 15 similarly braces the door rails 10 and 11. The end welded to the hinge rail, however, is of considerably greater width than the end welded to the jamb rail. And the body of the widened portion 36 of the plate. 15, is tapered orcut on a bias to the narrow width of the opposite end. This not only greatly increases the strength of the bracing of the structure, but also provides an enlarged area upon which may be mounted a window regulating mechanism,

by means of which the window glass of the structure may be raised and lowered. This Joe mounting is designated 37. Extending transversely of the widened portion 36, and transversely of the area occupied by. the window regulating mechanism, is a reinforcing head 38 which not only strengthens the area for the mounting of the window regulating mechanism, but further strength-- ens the bracing function of the plate. the opposite or narrow end of the plate is provided amounting 39" for the door lock, which is mounted in connection with the jamb rail 10. i

' Velded to I or flanges 22, 25, of the Z-sections of the lower lengths of rails 10 and 11 are the diagonally extending braces 16,17. These are in theforin of metal straps and they are welded to the under sides of arms 22, Inaddition, they are welded in the area 40, where they cross, to each other. The upper end of brace 17 is welded tothe widened portion 36 of the lockplate 15, whereby the bracing action is strengthened and the braces themselves the more equally divide the open area of the frame workbelow the lock plate 15.

Thearms or flanges 22,25 and-320i the Z-sections of rails 10, 11 and 1 3, and the sides and top of lock plate 15 are provided with perforations 41 constituting one element of a snap fastening means for an inner On the rail 11 is arranged a cooperating upholstery panel '(not shown). So former 1,. the perforations constitute the 'sgol etor fe-- male elements ofsuch fa's'teningmeans. An upholstery panel applied to the area defined by the. line of. these perforations will constitute the inner panel of the door frame, will lie flatly against the inner arms or flanges 22,25 and 32 and the lock plate 15, and will have its body supported against lateral displacement jointly by means of the lock plate 15 and byineans of the cross bracing straps 16 and 17, which latter it will be notedvlie substantially in the plane of the inner panel,

Thebody webs 18, 23 and23 of the jamb and hinge rails 10 and 11,respectively, are,

' it will be noted, of but one thickness of pressed metal, and all of them lie substantially parallel to the jainb ofthe door. On rail 10 is arranged a glass run 42 with its bottom" lying substantially against the web 18.

glass run 43 with its bottom lying substantially against the'webs 23, 23'. In the case of jamb rail. 10, the glass lrun is either formed or held inplace, by .a lightsheet metal angle44weldd to the web 18 adjacent the intermediate ai m 20; of the compound Z-section of the'lower length and facing arm 20, while in the upper length it is extended adjacent the inner arm20 of the simple Z-se ction, as clearly appears inFig. 4. It will be recollected that the simple Z- theunder' sides of'the arms channel lies-intermediate the inner and outer arms 24, 25, of the simploZ-section. This glass run 43 is extended in this case by ex tending angle 46 in welded connection with the web of the simple Z-section of the upper length to form or hold the glass run betwee'ndtself and the COPQI'zItlDQ' inner flange or arm 26 of the Z-scction. In (Billll case the bottoms of the glass runs lie substantially against the thin sheet metal body web of the simple Z-section. "The top rail 12 is provided with a glass-receiving channel 47 constituted by branch 48 of an angle 48, 49 removably secured at 50 to the web '27 of the top rail, and projecting inwardly be yond the Z-section to form or hold the glassreceiving channel between branch 48 andthe inner arm or flange 29 of the Z-section. This channel 47 is directly in line with upper ends of tie glass runs 42 and48 ofthe jamb and hinge rails 10 and 11;

The structurezabove panel '14 and lock late 15 is thus constituted a window frame. he glass 51 mounted in the "glass runs in the usual manneris housed, when lowered, between the inner and outer paneling of thedoor, but, when raised, closes the upper or open part of the frame which is the window of'the door. :TWO such doors are usually found in a sedan body, one in a coup body. "In Fig.

.1 is shown one complete door and the sections of another suifi'cientto indicate the intervening door post 52 and the adjoining jamb rails 10 and of the adjoining doors. In Fig. 4 a combined section of door post 52 and jamb rails" 10 is indicated. 'A door post of simple channel section having its opposite walls provided with lateral flanges is used. This is rendered possible by the invention of a simple z section "as embodied in the door frame. The inner arms 20 of the Z-sect-ion overlap flanges 58 of the channel section of the door post.

An examination offliigures 1 and 4 indicates the fullness of the attainment of the objects.of-inyinvention.The window glass 51, by' reason of the fact that the glass runs 42, 43 are mounted withtheir bottoms substantially against the thin sheet metal webs V overlap of arms or flanges 19,. 24," andthe width of the channel sectlon of the door post i is but a little greater than the combined widths of the overlap. With. the clearancebetween the door post and the door rails reduced to a practical minimum, the channel section of the post is reduced to aminimum consistent with proper strength and good appearance, and by an appropriate choice of the gauge of metal used in making the pressed metal door post, this strength is practically independent of width. Practicable clearance for the door at the jamb, and good appearance of the car, therefore, become the governing factors in construction, the opaque aggregate width of the members 10 and 52 can be reduced accordtions of which my invention is capable Without departing from its generic spirit.

That I claim is: 1. A metal door rail for the doors of closed vehicle bodies extending the length of v the door and having, in its upper portion, a body of simple Z section, the web of the Z extending transversely of. the door, and a supplemental member secured to the web of the Z to form with one arm of the Z a window glass run.

i 2. A metal door rail for doors of closed vehicle bodies extending the length of the door and having its upper body portion of simple 2 section, the web of the Z extending transversely of the door, and an angular strip secured to the web of the Z section portion adjacent one arm thereof to form with said arm a window glass run.

A metal door rail for the doors of closed vehicle bodies comprising a portion below the window opening of greater'transverse dimension than the portion thereabove, the lower portion being of double Z section and the upper portion being of atransverse width not exceeding the width of one of said Zs comprising the lower portion and in extension thereof.

4,. A metal door rail for the doors of closed vehicle bodies comprising a. portion below the window opening ofgreater transverse dimension than the portion thereabove, the lower portion having a transverse main body portion of web cross-section offset interinediate its inner and outer edges to provide a shoulder, the upper portion being of Z-section and having a main body Web in up ward continuation of the corresponding portion of the web of the lower portion and an inner arm in upward continuation of the shoulder in the lower portion.

5. A metal door rail for the doors of closed vehicle bodies comprising a portion below the window opening of greater transverse dimension than the portion thereabove, said lower portibn being formed with adouble rabbeted overlap and the upper portion with a single rabbetedoverlap in extension of one of the rabbeted overlaps of the lower portion.

.6; A continuousmetal door rail for doorsof closed yehicle bodies comprising a main body portion of web cross section extending transversely of the door and an overlap flange along one edge of said web portion, the web being formed'with a transverse ofiset providing'a portion ofireduced trans verse dimension above said oifset.

7. A top rail. for the doors of closed body vehicles which rail is of simple Z section,

I, together with an angle strip having one branch secured to the body of the Z and projectin beyond it to present the other branch 0 the angle to form with'the adja- 'cent arm of the Z a glass receivin channel.

'8. A door for closed body vehic es having ahinge-rail of simple 2- section and which section is of a smaller-dimension at the top than at the bottom, a jamb-rail of a com-' pound '2 section in its lower length, and simple Z section inits upper length, a glass run on the jamb-rail adjacent the intermediate arm of the compound 2 sectionand the inner arm of the simple Z section, and

* a co-operating glass run-on the hinge-rail intermediate the arms of the larger section and adjacent the inner arm of the smaller section thereof.

9. Aidoor for closed body vehicles hav-' ing pressed metal jamband hinge-rails of webbed section of a' single metal thickness, which webs are disposed substantially in-the planeof the jamb of the door, and ,co-operating glass runs witli'their bottoms lyingagainst the webs of the sections. a

10. A top rail structure for the doors of clo ed vehicle bodies comprising a main rail bo y formed with a shoulder adapted to provide the outer sidewall of a glass receiving channel, together with an auxiliary member removably secured tosaid main body andforming the inner side wall and bottom of the glass receiving channel.

l1. In a closed vehicle door, side rails provided with longitudinall extending glass runs, and a top rail inclu ing a removable sheet metal-closure for the upper ends of the glassruns on said side rails and haveeasm ing means forming a siderand the bottom of the glass receiving channel at the top of the door.

12. is metal doorrail for the doors of,

closed vehicle bodies having a main body portion of simple 2 section throughout its width than the upper portion,rand a glass run rigidly secured thereto and mounted intermediate the arms of the Z in the lower portion and adjacent the inner arm of the Z in the upper portion of the rail.

13. A metal door rail for the doors of closed vehicle bodies having a main body of web cross section extending transversely to the plane of the door and provided intermediate its edges with an offset providing a door overlap shoulder, and a glass run disposed in the angle formed by said offset.

14. In a closed vehicle body, in combination, a door post having a jamb faceportion and a door overlap at its inner edge forming a rabbet, adoor closing against said post having a rail of web cross section fitting within the rabbet of the post and providing with a glass run on the inner side of said web of a depth not substantiah ly greater than the width of the door overlap, whereby the door rail adds'substarntially nothing to the overall dimensions of the post in the region of the window opening.

15.111 a door for closed vehicle bodies, hinge and jamb rails flanged toward each other at their inner edges, below the window opening, and connected directly below said opening by a transverse lock plate and be low said lock plate by two diagonal cross brace strips, all of said cross connecting means being connected to the side rails through said inwardly extending flanges.-

16. In a closed body vehicle, in combination, a door post of a section having a vertically extending flange along the inner edge thereof, and a door closing against said post, said doorrhaving a jamh rail of a simple 2 section, onearm of which section overlaps the outside of said post, and the other arm of which section overlaps the ver: tically extending inner flange thereof, the free edges of said overlapping arm and flange lying in substantially Verse plane.

the same trans- 17, In a closed automobile body, the combination with a post having a vertically extending shoulder formed in one side thereof, ot'a door provided with a window opening and having a side rail extending the length of the door and adapted to seat in said shoulder when the door is closed against said post, said side rail above the bottom of the window opening being of a depth not exceeding the depth of said shoulder.

18. In a closed automobile body, the combination with a post having a vertically extending shoulder formed in one side thereof, of a door including a side rail having an upper portion adapted to seat in said shoulder when the door is closed against said post, and a lower portion adapted to be accommodated in a comp'lementally formed seat formed in the lower ortion of the post, the upper portion of said side rail being ofa depth not exceeding the de th of said shoulder and of considerably ess width in a direction at rightangles to said shoulder than said lower portion of the side rail.

19. A door rail for-the door of a closed automobile body, comprising a pressed metal stamping extending from the bottom of the door to the top thereof, said" stamping being of a cross section in thelower portion thereof of substantially greater over-all depth than in the upper portion thereof 20. A door rail for the door of a closed automobile body comprisin a pressed metal stamping extending from die bottom of the door to the top thereof, said stamping being of different cross sectional dimension in the upper section than in the lower section thereof whereby to constitute a jog inuthe rail to form one end of a window s1 21. In a door for a closed automobile body, a frame therefor including a pair of vertical- .ly extending slde rails reaching from top to bottom of the door, and an outer panel extending between and embracing the lower portions of said side rails, the portions ofsaid side rails which-project above said outer panel being of considerably less transverse width than the-lower portions thereof which are embraced by the outer panel.

ture.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

' In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa- 

